Do visa-free visitors still need K-ETA?
Most visa-free passports must apply for K-ETA before travel. The list, fee and validity move — use the current justice-ministry notice.
Passport Atlas
South Korea travel, immigration and PR
Korea uses K-ETA for visa-free visitors and points plus D-class visas for people who stay. F-5 PR and nationality are a separate bar.
TravelImmigration
Openness rank
#60
Entry openness
110
Visa free
62
Briefing updated
2026-09
Country profile
Capital
Seoul
Population
51.2 million
Area
98,480 km²
Currency
South Korean won KRW
Languages
Korean
Time zone
UTC+09:00
Foreign-born
1.8 million · 2024
Migrant share
3.5%
Ethnic groups
Korean
Foreign-born counts are UN international migrant stock via the World Bank (mostly 2024). Ethnic groups follow each country's published categories — most do not census by skin colour. Indicative only.
Entry visas and immigration pathsPassport visa-free listPaperwork and passport photosVisa siteImmigration site
Who this handbook is for
For short trips, study, IT and manufacturing work, or F-2 residents lining up F-5.
How to visit, and for how long
Many passports are visa-free but must obtain K-ETA before departure; validity follows the justice ministry. Most Chinese passports still need a C-3 or similar visitor visa. Stays are often 90 days. Visa-free status is not permission to work.
How to work or reside
Work is commonly E-7 skilled or E-9 non-professional; study is D-2; job-seeking is D-10. Points-based F-2 turns income, age, Korean and credentials into residence. Employer sponsorship and points invitations run in parallel.
PR and citizenship
F-5 usually needs years of lawful stay, income or investment, Korean and conduct. Visitor time does not count. Naturalisation is separate; dual nationality is allowed in some cases. Confirm with Korea Immigration.
Time to PR：Usually 5 years; points or investment can shorten
How popular passports enter
FAQ
Is F-2 points the same as PR?
No. F-2 is renewable residence; F-5 is PR. High points only get you closer — years and income still apply.
Does a Chinese passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “eVisa”. confirm length of stay with the destination. The port and mission are authoritative.
Does a US passport need a visa?
On this site’s matrix the result is “Visa free”. typical stay on the matrix is 90 days. The port and mission are authoritative.
Related destination guides
TaiwanHandbooks summarise public sources so you can cross-check the visa matrix and policy playbooks. They are not legal advice. Quotas, stay lengths and visa-free lists move — confirm with the destination government and its missions before you travel or file.